LAST month, I witnessed first-hand brutality on the part of Harare City Council security when vendors’ tables were destroyed in Kuwadzana, Budiriro, Machipisa and many other places.
The destruction was gut-wrenching and you could feel for those who were affected.
One sees the heartless nature of our leaders in this country when masses are tormented to such unprecedented levels.
The City of Harare prides itself that it has closed more than 463 unlicensed businesses in the central business district, but taking a closer look at how the operations are done, one wonders what Zimbabweans have done to deserve such ill-treatment.
My son was just one month into opening a small shop at Q-Mall at the intersection of Samora Machel Avenue and Chinhoyi Street.
What he went through at the hands of the so-called licence enforcers was disgusting, with daily demands of at least US$10 in order to remain open.
With the insignificant profit margins people are realising from shops, no one can survive the financial heat of that magnitude.
Those that resist bribery are often forced to close their shops and you hear a whole council celebrating the maltreatment of fellow citizens of this country.
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The harassment is nauseating, yet someone claims there is an operation to restore sanity in the city?
What sanity does the city authorities talk about when there is no effort to provide clean water, basic health services and garbage removal?
Where is the Local Government ministry when people are being harassed left, right and centre?
Is the Local Government ministry working in cahoots with the corrupt Harare City Council when people are crying on a daily basis?
Does the minister know the extortionate licence fees that the city charges the vulnerable businesses?
It’s not only that, even the health sector is in tatters.
We hear Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals has commenced renovations which came shortly after the unannounced visit to the health institution by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
For long, people have been crying about the state of our hospitals, but no one took them seriously.
I am flabbergasted as to why people’s voices are not heard in time when they cry for assistance, only to be remembered when high-profile people see for themselves.
The mess at our hospitals has become one of the greatest threats in the history of health service delivery in the country.
Health workers have incessantly complained about poor remuneration, poor tools of trade, dilapidated infrastructure, alas, no one has taken them seriously, except receiving threats of dismissal.
Lack of political will today to solve our health crisis will land the country in a desert, with all experienced staff having migrated to greener pastures.
The rate at which we are losing health workers is quite alarming and action is required as soon as yesterday.
The health sector is at the lowest level of the donga because it was allowed to reach there as a result of lack of political will, inconsideration, corruption, maladministration, poor financing.
Harare City Council is in a mess today, with proven reports of corruption, financial abuse, incompetence, maladministration, but no concrete action is being taken against the perpetrators of such, with some of them having grown long branches and deep roots because they are untouchable.
Residents are complaining about how badly run the city is today.
The commission of inquiry into the operations of Harare, which gobbled millions of dollars, found that many of the current office bearers are implicated in corrupt deals.
Many residents expect prompt action now as the arrogance exhibited by the current council is disgusting.
Countries like China do not entertain such high-level corruption and in many instances, reports state that capital punishment is imposed to send a clear message to would-be offenders.
What type of leadership do we have in Zimbabwe where the city fathers are implicated in million-dollar scandals and they are still in office?
The people are watching and their time to react will come.
Is this not the right time for the President to act on the commission’s report?
It is everyone’s guess that the report by the Justice Maphios Cheda-led commission of inquiry is damning and there should be no sacred cows this time.
Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison is keenly waiting to swallow these culprits who should have been taken in some months ago.
Action should be taken now and sanity should be restored to Harare City Council as a matter of urgency.
There is need for complete change of leadership at Town House if order is to be restored.
All the barbarity shown against vendors could have been a thing of the past if prompt action was taken against the malfeasance at the local authority.
The inconsiderate and iniquitous behaviour of council security officers is unpardonable.
It is undeniable that our esteemed city has been run down by uncaring leaders who do not deserve a day in office.
A commission may be better placed to deal with the contemporary issues bedevilling the city.
This is the time for action, minister and His Excellence, Mr President!
